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FEAR OF THE FUTURE

Here is a short piece dedicated to the end of the world. A sister piece in the series that includes “How to Talk to Aliens about Death” and “How to Wave a Flag”.

FEAR OF THE FUTURE

InterviewerWhat exactly is your phobia, Carlton?

CarltonWell the medical name is futurophobia.

InterviewerAnd what does that mean exactly?

CarltonIt means I’m afraid of the future.

InterviewerThe future?

CarltonYes.

InterviewerHow long have you had this phobia?

CarltonSince I was a child.

InterviewerAnd how did it start?

CarltonWhen I was five or six years old, I remember going to a friend’s house and I saw the future on the stairs. And the future was looking at me, well staring at me. I went to touch it, and it bit me. And since then I’ve always been afraid of the future.

InterviewerWhat happens if you see the future?

CarltonWell, I start to feel very nervous, my hearts beats quickly. And I have to go away very quickly from where the future is. For example, if I see the future in the street, I always cross to the other side.

InterviewerWhat do you do?

CarltonI’m a doctor

InterviewerIs your phobia a problem for you in your work?

CarltonWell, sometimes. On the rare occasion that I go to someone’s house on a housecall and they have a future, I have to ask the people to put it in another room. I can’t be in the same room as the future.

InterviewerHave you ever had any treatment for your phobia?

CarltonYes, I’ve just started going to a therapist. I’ve had three sessions.

InterviewerHow’s it going?

CarltonWell, now I can look at a photo of the future without feeling nervous or afraid. And I can touch a toy future. The next step will be to be in a room with the real future.

InterviewerDo you think you will ever lose your phobia of the futures?

CarltonI hope so. I’m optimistic. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to live in the future.